044: Unlocking the Power of Libraries and Innovation with Yasmin Khan

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, I sit down with Yasmin Khan, founder and principal consultant of Yasmin Khan Consulting Services. Yasmin discusses her journey from a career civil servant in various levels of government to becoming an entrepreneur. She shares insights about her passion for libraries and knowledge management, the influence of COVID-19 on her career decisions, and her deep interest in emerging technologies such as AI. Yasmin emphasizes the importance of experiential learning, critical thinking, and staying curious. She also reflects on her childhood experiences in libraries and the impact of teachers, including her brother, on her learning journey.

I met Yasmin when we were both participant’s in The Forum’s E-Series Program – an intensive online education program in business and entrepreneurship. The Forum is a national charity that helps self-identifying women, non-binary & trans-femme entrepreneurs activate, access, and grow the wisdom, financial, and community capital that is needed to achieve and sustain each individual’s vision of success. She and I were in a number of breakout groups together and I was inspired by her positive energy, drive, and curiosity. 

Yasmin is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Yasmin Khan Consulting Services which delivers research and strategic planning to provide the value of insight and knowledge for organizations to reposition themselves competitively in a continuously changing economic and market landscape. 

She is a seasoned expert in information strategy with over two decades of experience in library science and knowledge management. Yasmin isn’t your average professional. She’s navigated through various levels of government, from municipal to provincial, skillfully orchestrating two libraries and information centers along the way. Yasmin’s influence stretches beyond the bureaucratic sphere through her adept management of large-scale projects and transformative change initiatives. Whether it’s implementing innovative service models or leading complex government procurement processes, her track record speaks volumes. Yasmin’s passion doesn’t stop at project management. She thrives on the cutting edge, bridging the gap between technology and client needs. Acting as a liaison between software vendors and her employers, Yasmin leverages technology to streamline workflows and deliver maximum value to her clients.

Beyond her professional endeavours, Yasmin is deeply passionate about emerging technologies, particularly AI. She’s also committed to promoting diversity and women’s entrepreneurship, actively participating in initiatives like The Forum to empower women in business. 

Yasmin has a Bachelor’s of Arts with Honours in English and a Master’s of Information Studies with a specialization in Library Science both from the University of Toronto. She also has a Master’s of Science in Information and Knowledge Strategy from Columbia University. In her spare time, Yasmin enjoys traveling, taking art classes, being a voracious reader, and being curious about anything and everything.

Listen in as we talk about:

04:36: Yasmin’s story

08:30: Embracing life’s journey

09:50 Teaching and learning in entrepreneurship

13:53 Yasmin’s relationship with libraries

18:32 The evolving role of libraries

21:43 Artificial intelligence in education

26:02 The future of learning

26:55 The power of experiential learning

32:23 The heart of learning

38:03 Yasmin’s future learning aspirations

42:01 Yasmin’s words of wisdom

 

Connect with Yasmin:

• Website: https://www.yasminkhancons